About us

adShame showcases the ways the alcohol and food industry regularly flout the rules when it comes to responsible advertising.

Our aim is to show that self-regulation is not working, and changes are needed to ensure that regulation protects children and young people from the harmful effects of alcohol and unhealthy food advertising.

We're concerned about the effects of food and alcohol advertising upon young people. Children's exposure to unhealthy food advertising is contributing to increasing rates of childhood overweight and obesity.

Australian children are exposed to so much alcohol advertising that drinking at a young age is often seen as a cultural norm.

The food and alcohol industries have a huge conflict of interest when it comes to regulating their advertising, and as a result the current voluntary system results in our children being exposed to large amounts of advertising for alcohol products and unhealthy foods and drinks. What is needed is fair and independent regulation of these practices.

Our partner organisations

Foundation for Alcohol Research & Education (FARE)

FARE is an independent charitable organisation working to prevent the harmful use of alcohol in Australia. Its mission is to help Australia change the way it drinks by helping communities to prevent and reduce alcohol-related harms, building the case for alcohol policy reform and engaging Australians in conversations about our drinking culture.

The Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association (VAADA)

VAADA is the peak body representing Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) services in Victoria; and provides leadership, representation, advocacy and information to both AOD and non AOD related sectors. VAADA's purpose is to ensure that the issues for people experiencing the harms associated with alcohol and other drug use and the organisations that support them are well represented in policy and program development and public discussion.

Obesity Policy Coalition

The Obesity Policy Coalition (OPC) was established by Cancer Council Victoria, Diabetes Australia (Victoria), and the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Obesity Prevention at Deakin University, with funding from VicHealth.

The OPC advocates for evidence-based policy and interventions to address the high rates of overweight and obesity in Australia, particularly in children.

The Parents' Jury

The Parents' Jury is a web-based network of Australian parents who collectively advocate for the improvement of children's food and physical activity environments (such as reduced unhealthy food marketing to children, healthy choices for school canteens and activity-friendly neighbourhoods).

The Parents' Jury is supported by Cancer Council Australia, Diabetes Australia - Vic, the Australian and New Zealand Obesity Society, VicHealth and YMCA Victoria.

Membership of The Parents' Jury is free and open to all Australian parents, grandparents and guardians of children aged 18 or under.

Alcohol Advertising Review Board

The Alcohol Advertising Review Board (AARB), chaired by Professor Fiona Stanley AC, considers and reviews complaints from the Australian community about alcohol advertising and promotion.

The AARB was established by the McCusker Centre for Action on Alcohol and Youth and the Cancer Council WA, supported by other health organisations around Australia, in response to the numerous weaknesses of the current self-regulatory alcohol advertising system.

We aim to make it easy for the community to voice its concerns about alcohol advertising. If you see an alcohol advertisement or promotion that concerns you, we encourage you to contact the Alcohol Advertising Review Board atalcoholadreview.com.au

As an independent, not-for-profit organisation, Cancer Council Victoria plays a leading role in reducing the impact of all cancers on all people through innovative work in cancer research, prevention and support.